Ditching-plow



no Model.) J. D. HOBBS.

DITGHING PLOW. No. 278,549. Patented May 29,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

Josnrn 1). HOBBS, or MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

-DlTCHlNG-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,549, dated May 29, 1883. Application filed December 27, 1882. [No model.)

To alt whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOSEPH. D. HOBBS, 0

Mount Pleasant, in the State of Iowa, have inmove in the ditch which it forms, so as to be guided by the ditch itself to cut at any desired inclination and automatically indicate the inclination.

,The invention consists of special improvements in several particulars, all hereinafter fully described and particularly explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l 7 shows a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in section, as hereinafter explaiiied. Fig. 2 represents arear elevation of the apparatus located within the ditch.

Iproceed firstto describe the construction of themain supporting and driving wheel of the ditcher. It consists of a hub, 13, having a tier of spokes near each end. These spokes are strengthened by a drum, 0, and havefellies H H, provided with holes through the rim or tire, for the purpose described hereinafter. The drumO extends from one setof spokes to the other and is firmly secured toboth'sets, thus firmlyunitingandstrengtheningthetwo wheels and making them,in effect, onesolid wheel. The

hub is mounted upon a bolt set in the rear ends of the side bars, X X, and turns freely between them. Upon these rear ends are set vertical standards A A, in the upperends of which is a drum, J, over which oneend of a belt, F, passes, and upon theshaft of which, outside of the dru in, are fixed pinions I I, gearing into the holes in the face of the large wheel. The lower end of the belt is carried by a small pulley, K, mounted upon a shaft, 2, extended through the heels L L of the plow sides 0 0. These heelslL L may be provided with suitable caster wheels to allow the machine to run easier and with less friction. The belt F, which may be of any ordinary construction, passes through between the braces R R, which, with the belt, form a long open box, which serves to keep the carrying-pulleys J K their proper distance from each other, the box preventing the dirtfrom falling off the belt until it is carried over the upper pulley, J. 'When so carried over it is received by an inclined chute,

2, and delivers the dirt at a suitabledistance from the side of the ditch. The chute S is connected to the upright standards A A and to the upper end of the box It, as shown in Fig. 1.

Connected to the rear end of the chute S is a handle, T, by means of which the operator can guide the machine until it has cut deep enough into the earth to find support therein. The rest of the frame-work ofthe machine is shown clearly in the side elevation.

The side bars, X X, extend over the hub to the front of the machine, and are bolted to the sides of the box R, whereby the whole structure is firmly braced. Between them, at the of which suitable elevation may be given to the cutting-edge N of the plow M bymoving it vertically upon the pivoting-bolt 2. The rear edge of the bar is toothed and meshes into a worm upon the hand-shaft Z, by means of which it may be adjusted verticaly or held in any desired position. Pivoted between the side bars is a cam, 5, the shaft of which is provided with a handle, 4, the cam, when properly turned, bearing-upon the front edge of the bar W and hold ing it in contact with the worm; but upon turning the handle the bar may be quickly released and as quickly adjusted vertically without turning the shaftZ. The front edge of the bar W is made with a series of holes for a verticallyadjustable clevis, 6.

frontend, passes a con meeting-bar, W, by means S, which extends to one side, as shown in Fig.

The sides 00 of the plow M are set at a proper width to cut the ditch, and are provided with sharp edges on the front. To the rear part of one of these sides is attached avertical bar, U, which carries upon its upper end an adjustable level, V, adapted to show the inclination at which the plow is cutting. The plow being set for any required angle of inclination, the level V must be reversed upon return, which is done by changing its position upon the supporting bracket 8, on which it is held by a spring, 9, as shown in Fig. 1. held in any proper position by the are 7. The bar U also serves'as a lever for raisin g the plow at the end of the ditch, and by means of the catch the bar U l serves to hold the plow up The bar U is l'Ot when turning around at the end. The bar NV is connected firmly to the worm by the cam 5, and the whole frame-work is rigidly secured together and well braced at difl'erent parts, and the plow being set at the proper angle, it acts upon the principle of a plane. The bottom of the plow M is curved up, as shown at P, to guide the earth up to and upon the belt. By this construction the apparatus can be made to cut a straight and (3"811 bottom at any deited.

What Lclaim is- 1. In a ditching-machine, the wheel consisting of the hub having spokes near its ends, .the drum 0, and the fellies H H, said wheel being adapted to move in the ditch, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the described wheel, side bars, X X, and vertical standards perforatedr'im, of the pinion meshing therein A A, of the box R and belt and mechanism for driving the same, all as set forth.-

3. In combination with the wheel, constructed as described, the drum J, the pinions I I,

fixed upon the shaft, and the standards A A,

operatingin connection with the belt and open box R, substantially as described. I

4. The combination, with the'wheel having" and giving motion to the elevating-belt, and a chute, S, bolted to the standard, substantially as described.

5. The combination,in a ditchcr, of the side bars, X X, pivoted plow M, belt F, and the cogged bar W, worm-shaft Z, and cam 5, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the vertically adjusting bar W, pivoted plow, and side .bars,X X, the clevis 6, adapted to the adjusting-holes of the bar, substantially as described.

7 The combination of the vertically-adjustable plow and the operating-lever U with the level V, carried upon such bar, substantially as described. r

8. The combination of'the plow M, vertically adjustable, as described, and the bar U, fixed to said plow, and the level V, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the pivoted plow M, vertically-adjustable bar WV, having teeth engaging with worm upon the shaft Z, and the com 5 and bar U, operating as ahand lever, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the plow M, the box R, and feeding-belt of a ditcher, and the bar U, are 7-, provided with teeth and acting in connection with the bar U, and the level, as described.

11. In combination with the plow of a ditch-- er, the bar U and the reversible level V, resting upon suitable support, with suitable holding-spring, as described.

In testimony whereoflhave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH 1). HOBBS.

Witnesses: I

GEORGE W. M o0oY, M. L. ANDREWS. 

